Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A race in the Linux rtw89 Wi-Fi driver can access memory after it has been freed when a hardware scan is cancelled as completion occurs. The resulting kernel fault may crash or destabilize an affected system and, according to the supplied CVSS assessment, could compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority kernel update for endpoints using rtw89 Wi-Fi, especially shared or multi-user systems. Exposure is narrower than a broadly remote vulnerability, and active exploitation is not evidenced. Validate hardware and driver usage before escalating organization-wide emergency action.
Technical view
The unprotected rtwdev->scanning flag lets scan cancellation proceed after scan completion clears the flag and frees local->hw_scan_req. The cancellation path can then trigger a null-pointer dereference and use-after-free. The kernel fix moves the condition check under mutex protection. The supplied assessment classifies this as CWE-416 with CVSS 3.1 score 7.8.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Linux systems running an affected kernel with the rtw89 wireless driver and relevant hardware. The supplied version data identifies affected releases beginning at 5.18 and lists 6.12.13, 6.13.2, and 6.14, but does not provide sufficiently clear version ranges. Confirm status with the Linux distributor.
Exploitation context
The supplied CVSS vector describes local, low-complexity exploitation requiring low privileges and no user interaction. No CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation is provided. The bundle documents a KASAN-detected kernel crash, but does not establish reliable privilege escalation or remote exploitation.
Researcher notes
The demonstrated failure occurs when scan cancellation races with hardware-scan completion. KASAN observed a null-pointer dereference in the rtw89 scan-offload path, while the description also identifies use-after-free. The cited fix serializes the scanning-state check with a mutex. Precise affected and fixed release boundaries remain unclear from the supplied normalized version data.
Mitigation direction
- Install a distributor-supported kernel containing the upstream rtw89 race-condition fix.
- Confirm the selected kernel incorporates the applicable cited stable commit.
- If patching is delayed, consult distributor guidance for supported temporary mitigations.
- Prioritize systems allowing untrusted local access and using rtw89 Wi-Fi hardware.
Validation and detection
- Inventory kernel versions and determine whether the rtw89 driver is present or loaded.
- Map installed kernels to distributor advisories or the cited stable commits.
- Verify patched systems boot the intended updated kernel.
- Review kernel logs for rtw89 scan faults, null dereferences, or use-after-free reports.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2025-21729 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
2 official scoresWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2403cb3c235d5e339b580cc3a825493769fadca8CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5afcd6fcd1e1c1fd6bcc9a360c121d10eddade67CVE reference, Linux
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba4bb0402c60e945c4c396c51f0acac3c3e3ea5cCVE reference, Linux
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.